One afternoon I wondered how difficult it would be to create a map for Hidden Through Time. It took me just 5 hours from start to finish, to learn how to use the editor and avoid (hopefully) any blatant mistakes, and create the map. Personally I really love the Japanese theme in the game, and from the list of maps I have built so far, this one still is one of my favourites.

Build time: under 5 hours
Total downloads: 4493, Likes: 2169

The Egyptian theme is the other setting I really like in Hidden Through Time. While looking for a way to create something different, i.e. there are quite a few really nice maps that use Egyptian buildings, I experimented with pillars to create the "hint" of an architectural structure. Wondering how to fill in the spaces between the columns, i.e. add walls, it occurred to me that the book shelves might do the job nicely. From there I continued the "Library" theme, even extending it into the giant pyramid. Overall, I am quite happy how this map turned out.

Build time: 2-3 days
Total downloads: 4411, Likes: 2076

Having "used up" the Egyptian and Japanese themes, and having recently completed Assassin's Creed Odyssey, using the Roman theme seemed promising. Looking at the viaduct objects, it soon became apparent that it can be turned into something resembling an aqueduct, placing it between the terraced mountains created an interesting backdrop. Experimenting with free-form water expanses at the foot of the aqueduct for the first time, led me to add those white pillar blocks to keep the water "contained". While thinking on what to do with all the rest of the map, I added regularly spaced bordered beds to become the desert garden. At this point the theme of a Botanical Garden made more and more sense. So I added a Japanese garden, and several arboretums (from Roman and pre-historic times). I turned a "bath house" into a tropical house, and another building into a storage "shed" for the gardeners. All the while framing the gardens in Roman "architecture", well mostly columns.

For those curious, I actually wanted to add an Egyptian themed garden, i.e. a desert garden expansion, featuring pillars etc. to the western part of the map. Alas, I was already hitting the editor's object count limit, before adding all the trees, so I had to give up on that Egyptian idea. This might have been for the better.

Build time: 3-4 days
Total downloads: 4588, Likes: 2304 ... my most played map, to date.

Update: My 3rd map actually made it into the Three Must Try Community Maps - July 2021 map selection by the devs.

Update: My 3rd map also made it into the list of Steam store page images for the game. That surprised me.

I was not really sure there would be another map, this one is my 4th. I had the idea that placing dunes in water might be something that looks interesting. So I added the wooden planked docks, and then some Egyptian pillars, experimenting with the latter's height, borrowing a few ideas from AEons Desert Library. So far I have been trying to stick to using the objects from one theme, and one theme only. This time I thought it might be nifty to use the "grand canyon rock" from the Wild West theme. Surrounding the water feature with rock turned it into a walled garden of sorts, well more exactly a hidden oasis in the desert. Personally, I really like how this turned out.

Build time: less than 1 day.
Total downloads: 459, Likes: 217

Again, I was doodling about with the objects that might be used as building blocks for some form of architecture. There does not seem to be much of that in the game, but the blue blocks of rock work somewhat. Note: This is my 5th map. I started building something akin to the Egyptian pillars, made of blocks though. With a building layout, and an entrance done, I felt that ice and snow might be fitting. But since I do not really like the Viking theme, probably played way too much Skyrim (420+h), I wanted the ice to be contained by the palace, so that the outside areas could "plausibly" use normal vegetation.

The idea is that the blue zig-zag columns with the golden stripes create some sort of special field that contains the cold inside of the palace. Well, call it a fantasy if you like. I liberally mixed objects from other eras, notably the stone age rocks, a somewhat Zen stepping stone sand bed, a pond with large leaves, and a few other things. The passage to the golden "portal gate" initially did not exist, I just wanted to add that gate, but in a different way by framing it in rock blocks.

Build time: less than 2 days (2. day was mostly just tweaking)
Total downloads: 566, Likes: 259

Having started off with the, for me at the time, new and experimental Japanese themed map AEons Japonesque, I always felt that this rich theme could be explored in much more detail (certainly more than in AEons Botanic Garden). At the same time I had the idea to mix several themes into one map. Here I was thinking the Egyptian theme with the Japanese one, but how could I make that "plausible"? I then had the idea to create a river splitting the map in two distinct areas, using the Wild West theme canyon object set, and then suggesting that the angled gateway artefacts connect an Egyptian water palace with Japanese mountains. Thus the "Rift in Time" map name. Anyway, that is the way the layout for the map came about.

The canyon river was done in an afternoon, my first time using these Wild West river objects. The Egyptian water palace took longer to make interesting, since there is only so much you can do with pillars. On the Japanese side, I always wanted to use the "mountain" objects and stone stairs to create mountain-top shrines of sorts. And to make it plausible on how to scale these mountains and get to the top. One is dedicated to the fox deity, another is a grave mountain, the third one a Zen-like bamboo mound. I am quite proud of how all that turned out, especially since I have not seen a map with any of these ideas.

It may be quite apparent to the more observant player, that the map does not contain a single human. Why is that? With the high level of detail, three themes, and the relatively large map, I actually used up the object count budget the editor allows for right to the very last object. I.e. I simply cannot add anything more to the map. To me the world objects are more important and I also prefer adding animals, so I prioritized those. Thus there was nothing left in the budget for humans, without significantly altering the map.

Well, in the end, with my 6th map, you are getting three maps in one. Another idea I found appealing to try out. I hope it turned out fun to look at and play.

Build time: around 6 days (1 day for the canyon river, 2 days for the Egyptian water palace, 3 days for the Japanese mountains and finishing touches)
Total downloads: 1364, Likes: 648

After completing AEons Rift in Time, I really liked how the river canyon turned out, and since I have yet to actually use the "Wild West" theme to any significant extent, this posed a interesting opportunity. I also wanted to do more with the train set of objects, and find a way to have a track cross over another track, possibly add something like a tunnel. Some experimenting with the canyon objects led to what you see here.

All that desert made me want to add some form of oasis with lush greenery. The area is protected from the desert sands and slightly hidden. It turned into something of a small national park.

A round wooden object let me create the hint of a turntable for tracks, in particular for the mining carts. So I created a train track layout that connected several of the mines be they abandoned or in use. The cargo train is currently stopping at the train station, that lets you visit the small farm. The passenger train track makes use of the high ground of the canyon rock, passing over several bridges. There is even a bison pasture in my 7th map.

Build time: around 5 days
Total downloads: 1245, Likes: 575

P.S.: On release the map was played a huge amount, but it is no longer my most played map.

Looking at AEons Rift in Time it occurred to me that a very much expanded "Water Temple" might be interesting to tackle. To make the temple entrance imposing I tried to find objects that would let me create a wide stairway. Well, experimenting with the arena tiered seating objects from the Roman theme, did not remind me of steps, but of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. I took me 4-5 days of experimentation to stack these Roman arena objects in a novel way that would not give away their origin in an Egyptian setting.

With the tiers of marble ready for planting, I used the box-like plant to cover not only those large steps, but also the Egyptian head stones on the pillars. This suggests that both objects have been hollowed out, i.e. these have been turned into glorified planters. I quickly filled them with all shorts of vegetation: cacti, trees, flowers, etc... To create a favourable microclimate in a desert, I placed the whole structure in a flat artificial lake.

The hanging garden can be explored from the main entrance keeping to the wooden planked pathing. There is even a way to visit the upper floor terrace via wood ladder structure (the siege tower, borrowed from the medieval theme).

Even though my 8th map really does not seem to do so, this map was constantly battling the object count limit of the editor (2000 objects max). The bush (box-like) planting took up a huge amount of objects. And once you start to use them you need to continue to do so for consistency, IMO.

Build time: around 3 days actual build time (spread out over 10 days)
Total downloads: 329, Likes: 168 ... saddening that this map is not played more.

... a slightly strange one... in the works presently... not sure it will ever be released though!

After the recent release of the Aztec Rituals DLC, I looked into what might be possible to build with the new theme of "building blocks". The temples, new plants and trees, new animals, but especially the "dirt terraces" introduced a way to build on several levels. So I went for it, thinking about how to create an interesting diorama with many pools of water and an extensive terraced garden.

I love how the yellow stone slabs could be used to create stone stairs, stepping stones to keep your feet dry when traversing the many flat ponds and even a small bridge. The "floating islands" (raised beds in the large lake) show various edible produce and rare plants. Here eels are also raised. The main lake also sports a pier-like promenade. The steep mud embankments let me place the treasury temple in a more sheltered pond on its own tiny island. The many paths connect every part of the extensive garden. The volcanoes in the background are strangely benign, though.

With the many temples and the layout of an Aztec "city" this map might also have been named AEons El Dorado II, since the DLC already features a map named El Dorado. Oh, well.

My 9th map again was constantly battling the object count limit of the editor (2000 objects max). Especially towards the end. Using the path/pool trimming took up a huge amount of objects.

Build time: around 3-4 days actual build time (spread out over 8 days)
Total downloads: 3175, Likes: 1516 ...

Note: Neat, the map has been more downloaded than my Ice Palace and Hanging Garden maps, and that in less than a day. In two days surpassed Secret Oasis as well.

Update: After 20 days the map is my 4th most downloaded map... uncanny. Nice to see so many folks playing the map.

Tip: Should you like to try out a map, you can download it via the:

• Hidden Through Time main menu
  
• -> Online
  
• -> Online Maps
  
• -> click on "all" button
  
• -> under Search map: enter "AEons <mapname>"
  
• -> download the map
  
• and then play it.

After some judicious cloning of an object (any one will do) in a New Map it turns out that the Hidden Through Time Editor has a hard limit of 2000 objects maximum. Note that chars and animals, along with any plants or architecture, are all counted as one object each. The size of the object does not seem to matter, just the amount of them.

I hit that limit in my two larger maps: AEons Botanic Garden and AEons Rift in Time, and was close to the limit with AEons Wild Canyon.

You may wonder how one might hit that limit: in my case the path edging in Botanic Garden and the pillars & edge stones along with the many plants in Rift in Time take up many objects when systematically and densely placed.

Here, a quick overview of the changes to this page. Usually I am adding new maps, and maybe a few editor tips.

Updates:

• January 22, 2025: Updated the total downloads and likes numbers.
  
• July 31, 2022: added AEons Aztec Garden to the guide. (It's been over a year!) Also added the current total downloads and likes numbers, at the time of posting, to all the maps.
  
• July 11, 2021: added AEons Hanging Garden to the guide.
  
• July 1, 2021: added AEons Wild Canyon to the guide.
  
• June 24, 2021: added AEons Rift in Time to the guide.
  
• Edited some of my "dev comments" to be clearer.
  
• June 18, 2021: created AEons Ice Palace
  
• June 17, 2021: created AEons Secret Oasis
  
• June 15, 2021: created AEons Botanic Garden
  
• June 10, 2021: created AEons Desert Library
  
• June 5, 2021: created AEons Japonesque

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